Setting

The short story “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J. D. Salinger is set in Florida in 1948.

Physical setting

The main elements of the physical setting are the hotel where the characters are staying and the beach where Seymour is playing with Sybil. The events take place over less than a day.

The hotel is depicted as crowded because “ninety-seven New York advertising men” are also hosted there. The room is a typical hotel one with “twin beds”. The hotel is also presented from Muriel’s perspective: “We couldn’t get the room we had before the war,"’ said the girl. "The people are awful this year. You should see what sits next to us in the dining room. At the next table. They look as if they drove down in a truck."”

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Social setting

The social setting, however, is described quite richly, as it explores various aspects of American society. First of all, the story explores materialistic culture through the characters of Muriel, her mother (and father) and Mrs. Carpenter.

Muriel appears to be only concerned with appearances. She spends her time taking care of the way she looks and her clothes and tells her mother about what other people in Florida look like, namely hotel guests such as the psychiatrist and his wife. Muriel describes all these people as tasteless regarding fashion, showing how judgmental she is about appearances. Her mother is also interested in these details, showing that they are alike.

Furthermore, both Muriel and her parents are concerned with money, despite their taste for nice clothes and luxurious items. The parents put off repairing a car because it is expensive while Muriel complains about the cost of the long distance telephone conversation.

Mrs. Carpenter is also concerned with appearances and material things as she is quick to dismiss her daughter Sybil for a martini. The references to bingo and the piano also illustrate the way tourists were entertained at the time at hotel resorts.

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